The ECB deploying cricketers born
overseas is
hardly new*. The ranks of proxy Englishmen have swelled even recently as players from five
countries turned out for the Three Lions in the series defeat by the Sri
Lankans. Even poaching Aussies isn’t a new one; however, the biggest difference
between Sam
Robson and Martin McCague (or Alan Mullally, ad infinitum) is that Australia
desperately wanted him in a Baggy Green.

At 28 and fending off Jan Vertonghen for his place
beside Vincent Kompany at the heart of Belgium's defence, it’s logical to
assume that Vermaelen wants first-team football; United certainly have money to burn that may raise his earnings above what the Gunners are willing (or
able) to offer.

While possible, it’s unlikely that van Gaal would sanction
such a move for several reasons. Both Smalling and Cleverley fit into the
coach’s modus operandi as young players malleable to his
methods; the Englishman is also four years younger than his supposed upgrade. Smalling is also United’s
emergency right-back, while both midfielder and defender are English and therefore come at a
FFP-induced premium.

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

World Cup winners: Let’s
just say it – Spain are great, they have been for years and over the past five
years or so and despite being short a centre-forward they find ways to win.
They truly are a team with no holes (especially with the acquisition of Diego
Costa) and their manager knows how to get the most from them. The inability to
win that plagued them for fifty years before the 2008 Euros has now been utterly
reversed.

Finalist: Brazil.
Boasting probably the
iconic player of the tournament in Neymar, a fine
supporting cast and a manager who borders on genius, the reason I haven’t
selected them isn’t so much commentary on them but a reflection on how much
faith I have in Spain (and Spanish football in general). However, this team
depends more on three players (Thiago Silva, Luis Gustavo and Hulk) than you
might suspect.

Third-place game: Germany
vs Argentina, with Argentina coming out on top. The quality going forward that
the Argentines have is mind-boggling: the best player on the planet, perhaps
the fourth-best player on the planet (Aguero), and – according
to the Guardian – the criminally-underrated 72nd best player on
the planet (Angel Di Maria – he may be the 72nd “best”, but may rank
in the top 20 in terms of actual impact).

This trident are backed by the wiles of Martin Dimichelis,
Pablo Zabaleta, Javier Mascherano, while the elegance of Ezequiel Garay will
shine in South American conditions. Unfortunately for Germany, a reliance on a
goalscorer who is only two years away from using a Zimmer frame is just too
great to achieve their lofty – and
now increasingly tempered – ambitions.